Duplex driving mechanism



Oct. 22, 1935. F. BALzER DUPLEX DRIVING MECHANISM INVE'NroR fuza? f wf ATTORNEYS 0d. 22, 1935. F- BALZER DUPLEX DRIVING MEGHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1%/7-2 i4/ ZIP l T NEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1935 DUPLEX DRIVING MCHANISM Application September 15, 1930, Serial No. 482,124

iClaim. (Cl. lll-230.13)

My invention relates to duplex driving mechanism and particularly, to a duplex driving mechanism as applied to a fabric treating unit embodying a rotating cylinder for carrying heavy loads of fabric during a treating operation together with apparatus for simultaneously adjusting the driving connections between a plurality of power units and the treating unit whereby each power unit will exert the same pull or driving effort.

Such duplex driving mechanism and simultaneous adjustment of the driving connections is particularly important and greatly to be desired to drive the cylinder of a treating unit when such cylinder contains heavy loads of fabric being treated. In such units, it is customary to rotate the cylinder first in one direction and then in the other after a given number of revolutions of the cylinder in each direction and, when one power unit only is employed having a driving connection with but one end of the cylinder, the cylinder must be made extremely heavy and rigid in order to withstand the torque and twisting stress that is always present but is greatly increased at the time of reversal of rotation of the cylinder.

Heretofore, the cylinders and supporting means have necessarily been made so heavy in order to withstand the stress and strain resulting from the cylinder being driven from one end only that the machines were not usable in certain locations and buildings unless the buildings were specially constructed. The expense of building and cost of the unit was also more or less prohibitive.

In accordance with my invention, a driving connection is provided at each end of the fabric treating cylinder and a separate and distinct power unit is connected to each driving connection, the power units being operated in unison to rotate the cylinder in both directions, and means are provided for so balancing the driving means that the same amount of pull or driving effort is exerted by each power unit.

The objects of this invention are to provide an apparatus of such nature as to prevent consecutive stalling of the motors or power units and thereby stalling of the driven machine; to attain an equal tension on all motor or power unit connections so that each motor or power unit will have an equal pull or exert equal driving effort; and to provide means whereby all motor or power units may be adjusted simultaneously.

Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention may be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may 55 be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a washing machine embodying invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing particularly a part of the 5 driving connection between the driving and the driven means; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing one of the motor or power unit supports; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line Il-i of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a l0 sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Referring to the drawings, I have shown one embodiment of my invention in conjunction with a washing machine embodying a tub or container cylinder I mounted upon a suitable support 2. l5 The customary rotating cylinder 3 is rotatably mounted Within the tub or container I and is provided with trunnions d extending through suitable bearings in the ends of the tub or container l. Such rotatable container 3 and trunnion 2O shafts are rotated by way of large gears 5 disposed on opposing ends of the trunnion shafts 4.

A motor or power unit 6 is disposed at each end of the tub or container I and these units are provided with small pinions 1 on the ends of their 25 driven shafts 8. As shown, these driven shafts may be in two parts connected together by suitable shaft couplings il. Such small pinionshl are operatively connected with larger gears I0 that are mounted on shafts I I by means of chain belts 30 or other connecting means I2. The shafts I I have small pinion gears I3 rigidly mounted on their outer ends and arranged to mesh with the large gears 5 which are rigidly mounted on the trunnion shafts 4. Thus, driving connection is made 35 between the motors or power units 6 and the inner rotatable container 3 of the washing machine.

In accordance with my invention, each motor or power unit 5 is mounted on a superstructure above the washing machine just described, these 40 superstructures being identical whereby it is necessary that only one be described. As shown, each motor or power unit 6 is rigidly mounted on a base frame I 4 which is slidable on a sub-base frame I5 which is rigidly securedto channel 45 members I6 that connect the end frames of the washing machine together by means of bolts or otherwise, bolts I1 extending downwardly through slots I'I' in the base frame I4 providing a means for securing the base frame I4 in adjusted posi- 50 tion on .the sub-base frame I5.

The upper surface of the sub-base frame I5 is provided with two parallel rectangular grooves I8 that coincide with two rectangular companion grooves I9 on the under surface of the base 55 frame I4. Rectangular shaped bars 20 are fitted into the coinciding grooves I8 and I9 and prevent longitudinal movement of the base and subbase frames relative to each other but permit relative lateral movement or adjustment. Thus, it will be understood that the chain belt I2 may be tightened or loosened by adjusting the base frame I4 with the power unit in one direction or the other relative to the sub-base frame I5 since the' small gear 'I is located to the rear although above the large gear 5, see Fig. 2.

To provide for such movement or adjustment of the motor'or power unit base frame I4 and the motor or power unit 6 secured thereon a threaded shaft 2| that is held against longitudinal movement by means of collars 22 and 23 as shown in Fig. 5 is rotatably mounted on the motor or power unit sub-base frame I5 and has its threaded portion disposed in a threaded portion 24 of the base frame I4 that is heldson the base frame by a pin 24 whereby rotation of the shaft 2I will cause movement of the base frame I4 relative to the sub-base frame I5 in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft. It will be noted that the shaft 2I extends from front to back of the machine parallel to the two bars 25 and preferably equidistant from such bars.

Rigidly secured on the shaft 2i is worm gear 25 that is in meshing relation with a worm 2S rigidly mounted on a rotatable shaft 2'! which extends from one end of the machine to 'the other, the shaft and worm gear being held against longitudinal movement by brackets 2S that 'form bearings in which the shaft 2'I rotates. A worm 2E is provided for each motor or power unit employed, the worms being mounted on the saine shaft 21 so' that adjustment of the motor or power units will be simultaneous regardless of their movement.

In the operation of this part of the apparatus, when it is desired to adjust the motor or power units, the bolts I7 are loosened and the shaft 2'I rotated in any well known manner to move the motor base frame I4 in one direction or the other relative to the sub-base frame I5 through the medium of the worm 26, worm gear 25, and

threaded screw shaft 2I hereinbefore described, 5

such movement of the motor or power unit and its base frame tightening or loosening the chain belts I2 as will be readily apparent. Any desiredmeans or method of adjusting the driving connections individually may be provided or used 10 as will be. apparent. Y

Referring to the drawings and the preceding description, I have provided a means for simultaneously adjusting the belt driving connections between a plurality of motor or power units and 15 a single driven element whereby the same amount of pull or driving effort will be exerted by each motor or power unit. This is highly advantageous in that it will prevent stalling of the driven element by reason of consecutive stalling 20 of the motor or power units and will, in a large measure, eliminate the strain and torque usually found in a shaft that is driven from one of its ends only and supports a heavy or large driven element or in the main body portion or a driven 25 element which, as in this instance, isa cylinder supported at each of its ends by means of trunnions and bearings.

What I claim is:

In apparatus of the character described, and 30,

frames for their coincident adjustment to pro- 40 vide simultaneous adjustment of both said belts.

FRITZ BALZER. 

